Class Notes

Kaye Dowdy

Kaye Dowdy, '06, received her medical degree from the Uniformed Services University on May 19, 2012.

Lauren Ciminera, '05

Lauren Ciminera and Marcus Cannon, JD candidate for 2012, announced their engagement in June and plan to marry in Italy later this year.

Employers of the Year

Seattle University’s Career Services awarded its Employer of the Year awards at the annual Career Expo job fair in spring. Alumni representing the recipients accepted the awards on behalf of The Boeing Company and the offices of Sen. Maria Cantwell and Sen. Patty Murray.

Mick Schreck, '65 and Marnie Schreck, ’66

Mick Schreck and his wife, Marnie Schreck, ’66, and their 10 grandchildren pose with Rudy the Redhawk after a men’s basketball match at KeyArena at Seattle Center.

Erin Byrn McElroy, '03

Erin Byrn McElroy, '03, and husband Sean McElroy, who married in August 2008, welcomed Kellan Patrick Nov. 16, 2011. Congratulations! Erin is the advancement coordinator at Lakeside Legacy Foundation at the Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake, Ill. In her work she does marketing, community relations, events and exhibitions and gallery openings. Erin is also an adjunct instructor and part-time academic adviser at McHenry County College.

Bob Frause, '67

Bob Frause received the Jay Rockey Lifetime Achievement award from the Puget Sound chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The award recognizes career achievements of Puget Sound-area public relations professionals who have advanced the industry and demonstrated outstanding professional ability and conduct.

Doreen Cato, '07 MEd

Doreen Cato, MEd, has written a book, Saving the Leader Within: The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Leadership. The inspiration for the book came out of her 2007 dissertation and through research “where my immediate family was used as the case study and four historical leaders were depicted: Sojourner Truth, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, and Wangari Maathai,” says Cato. “All four among many others experienced traumatic childhoods that left them through interventions physically and spiritually compassionate, charismatic, empathetic and highly forgiving of themselves and others. Saving the Leader Within is available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, among other retailers. Half of the proceeds benefit Seattle’s First Place.

Jason Curtis, '06, and Lauren Farricker, ’08

Jason Curtis, '06, and Lauren Farricker, ’08, were married Sept. 10, 2011 in Whistler, Canada. The couple met in the Marketing Club at the Albers School of Business and Economics while undergrads at SU. They both work in online advertising and reside in Mercer Island, Wash.

Lindsay Gossack, '10

Lindsay Gossack, '10, was chosen as a 2011 Medtronic Global Hero. Medtronic, a medical technology company, honors inspirational individuals who maintain athletic lifestyles with the help of a medical device. Since her freshman year at SU she has lived with Type I diabetes and since 2008 has relied on an insulin pump. Gossack accomplished a major goal in 2010, when she completed her first full marathon.

Jennifer Keough, '92, ’96 MA, ’99 JD,

Jennifer Keough, ’96 MA, ’99 JD, was promoted to chief operating officer at the Garden City Group, Inc. (GCG,) on the largest legal administration firms in the United States and a leader in class action and bankruptcy administration. To the position Keough brings more than 15 years of legal expertise including management of high-profile class action administrations. In 2003 she joined GCG as vice president and managing director, tasked with launching a West Coast presence for the company. Two years later she was promoted to senior vice president and to executive vice president in 2009. She oversees GCG’s Seattle office.

Stephen Sullivan, '02 and Megan Peterson ’04, ’08

2002 Stephen Sullivan and Megan Peterson, ’04, ’08, were married July 30, 2011 at Megan’s parents’ home in Shoreline, Wash. The couple met at SU in 2000 and were reintroduced the summer after Stephen received his MBA from MIT in 2009. They got engaged in Paris the following year. Stephen is a senior product manager for Zynga and Megan a registered nurse in the trauma/neuro intensive care unit at Stanford Hospital. The couple lives in San Francisco.

Maxine Parker, '75

Maxine Parker graduated from Argosy University with her doctorate degree in educational leadership in 2011.

Christina (Kressner) Easton, '95

Christina (Kressner) Easton was elected President of the Board at the Eastside German Language School in Issaquah, Wash. The Eastside German Language School (EGLS) offers German language immersion classes and cultural activities to students of all ages, from preschool to adults.

Lauren Divina, '94 MEd

Lauren Divina, MEd, a lead guidance counselor at Madison Middle School, and colleagues were selected as the national winners of the Career Awareness and Exploration Award from the National Consortium for State Guidance Leadership. The award recognizes comprehensive and effective guidance and counseling programs at elementary and middle schools. Madison Middle School is the first winner of the award in Washington state. (Pictured): The school counselors at Madison Middle School (l-r): Linda Mundinger, Lauren Divina and Claudia Whitaker-Greenway.

Cara Haney, '93

Cara Haney, who teaches kindergarten at Panther Lake Elementary in Kent, Wash., received the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. Her award comes with recognition as one of the nation’s top educators. She received the award at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in February in Washington, D.C.

Nicole Grabler, '09, ’11 MACJ and Rand Lutomski, ’09

Nicole Grabler, ’11 MACJ, and Rand Lutomski, ’09, married Sept. 4, 2011. The two met on their first day at Seattle University during orientation. Four SU graduates were with the couple on their special day: Brittany Miller, ’11 MACJ, Elyssa Mudd, ’11 MACJ, Christopher Jay, ’09, and Matthew Tilton, ’09. Also in attendance were Rand’s mother, uncle and aunt, Teresa (Maassen) Lutomski, Joseph Maassen and Joan (Maassen) Rigg, all SU alums. Rand writes, “We are grateful to find ourselves in the company of friends from an institution that has created tremendous value in our lives and continues to build on a legacy of integrity and excellence that we cherish.”

Doug Hill, JD, and Alycia Hill, ’11,

Doug Hill, JD, and his daughter, Alycia Hill, ’11, both won gold medals at the World Age Group Triathlon Championships in Beijing, China, this past September. The races were on the same course where the 2008 Olympic triathlon was staged. With their wins, Doug and Alycia qualify for the 2012 championships in New Zealand.

Therese (Blazina) Andre, '83

Therese (Blazina) Andre recently received two project management certifications: the PMP from the Project Management Institute and the Certified Senior Project Manager from IBM.

Jim Duncan, '84

Jim Duncan was elected board chair of ArtsFund and recently joined the board of Seattle’s Benaroya Hall. Duncan, who lives in Seattle with his wife, Gaylee, is also the board chair of Sparling.

Sim Osborne, JD, '84

Sim Osborne, JD, recently won the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. The award is given to attorneys who exhibit exemplary trial work. Osborn represents clients who are seeking justice and accountability in tragic situations. In the past 27 years, he has won his clients jury verdicts or settlements totaling more than $100 million.

Jennifer (Sullivan) Nunn, '98, '05 and Jeremy Nunn, '09 MBA

Jennifer (Sullivan) Nunn shared this recent note in response to our winter 2010 story on couples who met at SU, fell in love and married. Here’s what she writes: I met Jeremy Nunn in 2003 in MBA 510 with Professor Bill Weis. It was a great class to meet in because it was so interactive, including a weekend retreat, giving us lots of opportunity to talk and get to know one another. We started dating soon after the class ended and were married in July 2005. We have two children, Isabella, age 4, and Jacob, age 3.

Don Hewitt, '88

Don Hewitt is senior account executive with Symantec Corporation in the Bay Area.

Jennifer Kampsula, '95

Jennifer Kampsula joined the Fort Vancouver National Trust as director of Gift Planning. Previously, she practiced law with Kell, Alterman & Runstein, LLP for almost 12 years. The 2004 recipient of the Trust’s General George C. Marshall Public Leadership Award, Kampsula is a member of the Trust’s Marshall Award Recipients Society (MARS). Recently she finished a two-year term as president of MARS and serving on the Trust’s Board in this capacity.

Frances (Capestany) Hewitt, ’94

Frances (Capestany) Hewitt, ’94, has expanded her FHI Marketing Consulting business to provide full marketing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses in the Bay Area. In addition, she is founder of GNON™ (Girls Night Out Networking), an informal networking group for women that currently has three chapters in the Bay Area and more than 1,200 members.

Chris Grivas, '91

Chris Grivas has written a new book, The Innovative Team, published by Jossey Bass/Wiley. The book looks at work-style preferences and the creative and effective leadership skills of high-functioning teams in the work place.

Emmanuelle Escandar, '10

Emmanuelle Escandar is the new Administrative Assistant for the office of Alumni Relations at Chicago Loyola.

Robert Ittes, MBA

Robert Ittes, MBA, was named Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer, at Seattle Bank. In this role Ittes will oversee the administration of the bank's policies and procedures regarding the credit the bank extends to its customers, and will also manage the bank's loan portfolio. Ittes has been in the banking industry for 34 years, most recently as the President of Issaquah Community Bank of the Northwest.

Maj. David Doran, '00

Maj. David Doran, '00, is currently studying at the Naval War College as a student in the Naval Command and Staff College as well as the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School. He is pursuing a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Previously, Maj. Doran served in Afghanistan and Iraq and receved two Bronze Stars and four Air Medals, including the Combat Action Badge. Maj. Doran and his wife of 10 years, Shauna, are the parents of four children.

Karen Ward, '08

Karen Ward, a graduate of Albers, runs Girly Girl Wines. The inspiration came out of her participation in the 2008 Albers Business Plan Competition. Each bottle of wine under her Girly Girl brand has a fun “girly” name and personality attached, such as “Chloe,” “Kayla,” “Farrah” and “Mia.” Ward knows something about wine as the director of sales and marketing at Washington Wine & Beverage Company. After winning the Albers Business Plan Competition’s $10,000 prize she presented her plan and is now owned and produced by Washington Wine & Beverage.

Deborah Solatka, '05

Deborah Solatka, a graduate of SU’s doctoral program in Educational Leadership, accepted a position as program director for school guidance and counseling at City University of Seattle. Solatka served for 30 years in K–12 education as a school counselor and central office administrator. She says she is “excited to pursue my passion for preparing future generations of professional, caring and competent school counselors.”

Avijit Sinha, MBA, and Sangeeta Ranjit, MBA

09 Avijit Sinha, MBA, and Sangeeta Ranjit, ’09,MBA, were blessed with a lovely daughter, Meher Sinha, born on June 1, 2011. The family lives in Newcastle, Wash.

Sue Kleitsch, MEd, '01

Sue Kleitsch, MEd, is the new principal of Whitman Middle School in Seattle. In 1997 Kleitsch joined Whitman and served as the school’s assistant principal for the past decade. Prior to Whitman she taught classes at Marshall Alternative High School.

Cory Hitzemann, '97

Cory Hitzemann has been promoted at Coughlin Porter Lundeen, a structural, civil and seismic engineering firm.

Anne C. Christensen, '79

Anne C. Christensen has e-published two books, Motorbikes and Murder: A Mystery and Patrick the Naughty Pony. She recently spoke at the Northwest Women’s Show on the topics of mysteries, adventure stories and e-publishing.

Danielle Burd, '94; Matt Hanna, ’94; Tina Marie Mares, ’08 JD

Danielle Burd, Matt Hanna and Tina Marie Mares were named in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” issue in September. Burd works as executive vice president, Commercial Region Manager, at Umpqua Bank. Hanna is chair of the real estate group at Cairncross & Hempelmann. Mares is deputy prosecuting attorney at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Leslie Ann Budewitz, '81

Leslie Ann Budewitz has released her first book, Books, Crooks & Counselors: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure, published by Quill Driver Books. Books, Crooks & Counselors is a comprehensive law guide to help writers create more realistic characters and storylines, Budewitz says. “The book addresses a wide range of legal issues that can arise in fiction, including criminal and civil law, criminal investigation and procedure, how trials are conducted, civil and criminal penalties, legal terminology” and more, she says. Budewitz is a practicing lawyer with more than 25 years experience in the field. She is also a published mystery writer. Read an excerpt of her work.

Jim Swindal, '78

Jim Swindal will soon release a book on existentialism, Action and Existence. Swindal, a philosophy major at SU, says he was inspired by several courses he took while a student, particularly a course by Robert Cousineau, S.J., that dealt with existentialism. Says Swindal of Father Cousineau, “He was well known in those days—he was an inspiring, enthusiastic, and enthralling teacher. … He very much inspired me to study more philosophy and particularly existentialism.” He adds, “I just want to say that the education I received at SU, and not just in the philosophy department, continues to inspire me profoundly. I hope that students you have today will feel the same years from now about their education, as I do now about mine.”

Don Nelson, '71

Don Nelson has purchased the Methow Valley News in Twisp, Wash., and will serve as editor and publisher of the 108-year-old weekly newspaper. Previously, Nelson was editor of the Skagit Valley Herald in Mount Vernon, Wash., and editor of the Puget Sound Business Journal in Seattle. He is a former member of the Seattle University Alumni Board of Directors, and was editor of The Spectator during his senior year.

Michael J. Hennessy, '71

Michael J. Hennessy has been appointed Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Texas State University. In 1980 Hennessy joined the Texas State faculty and was promoted to professor in 1987. For two years he served as Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts prior to chairing the English department from 2005-2011. Hennessy has written three widely used textbooks, The Borzoi Handbook for Writers (with Frederick Crews and Sandra Schor), The Borzoi Practice Book for Writers and The Random House Practice Book.

Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan, who rose to fame as the bassist for Guns N Roses and most recently, rock group Velvet Revolver, has just released a new book, It’s So Easy: and other lies. McKagan returned to his SU roots in October when he visited campus for a panel discussion on life as a rock star, his work as a writer—he is a regular contributor to publications including Seattle Weekly—and how his Albers education helps in his endeavors in wealth management.

Hall of Famers

Members of the Seattle University Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2011, are by those already enshrined in the Hall of Fame at Athletics’ annual dinner and induction ceremony earlier this year. This year’s class consisted of 14 individuals and two teams representing seven sports and spanning six decades of athletics excellence, history and tradition at SU.

Eugene Ploch, '00

Eugene Ploch received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May 2011 from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.

Tony Vivolo, '66

Tony Vivolo presented his historical memoir, Growing Up in New York’s Italian South Village at a Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation event in New York City on May 25, 2011.

Colton Michael Carothers, '06

Colton Michael Carothers graduated from the University of Washington School of Law with his Juris Doctor in June. He will be relocating to Minneapolis to practice law in the home office of international law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

Wendy R. Ellis, '08

Wendy R. Ellis received her Master in Public Health at the University of Washington this past spring. She will be moving to Washington, D.C., to complete a certificate in Legislative Studies at Georgetown University this fall, while continuing health services research. Recently, she presented the findings of her thesis research, “Identifying Factors Associated with Regional Variations in the Utilization of Mental Health Care among Medicaid-Eligible Children in Washington State” at AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting.

Jennifer Downs, '09, and Spenser Harding, ’09

Jennifer Downs and Spenser Harding were married on July 11, 2009, at the Browns Point Lighthouse Park overlooking Puget Sound. The couple met in the third grade, and dated since high school and during their undergraduate years at Seattle U. They reside in Southern California.

Tsz Chun Lo, '08 and Moonok Kim, '08

Tsz Chun Lo (electrical engineering) and Moonok Kim (computer science), were married on July 3, 2010, at the Golf Club at New Castle. The couple met at SU and dated for five years. Kim is working on a master’s degree in computer science at Seattle University.

Rob Nielson, '06

Rob Nielsen was elected to a two-year term as president of the Crisis Clinic’s board of trustees. A nonprofit organization in King County, Wash., the Crisis Clinic offers a variety of services to those coping with emotional stress.

Mikayla Patella-Buckley, '05

Mikayla Patella-Buckley, MIT, and Sean Patella-Buckley welcomed their son, Atticus, on March 27, 2011. Mikayla teaches chemistry at University Prep in Seattle. The family lives in Mountlake Terrace, Wash.

Angela Balinbin Navarro, '04 and Garnet Navarro, ’03

Angela Balinbin Navarro and Garnet Navarro welcomed their first child, Maya Clare Balinbin Navarro, on April 6, 2010. The family lives in Renton, Wash.

Kymberly Evanson (Evans), '99 and Aaron Evanson, ’04

Kymberly Evanson (Evans) and Aaron Evanson welcomed their second son, Jack Loren, on Sept. 8, 2010. Big brother Lucas was born in 2006 in Washington, D.C. Recently Aaron became senior project manager for Method Homes, a modern prefab home building company in Seattle. Kymberly is an associate at the newly formed Pacifica Law Group, where she practices appellate, constitutional and governmental law.

Clementine (Lord) Lindley, '02

Clementine (Lord) Lindley and Andrew Lindley welcomed son Aidrian Joseph on April 12, 2010. The family resides in Billings, Mont.

Ivy Y. Chiang, '97, ’02

Ivy Y. Chiang welcomed the birth of her second daughter, Lilienne Sam, on Nov. 18, 2010.

Ross Farr, JD, '01

Ross Farr, JD, joined the Seattle law firm Ogden Murphy in January. Farr’s practice focuses on employment law, complex administrative litigation and appeals. Previously he served as a judicial clerk for the Washington State Court of Appeals and the Washington State Supreme Court.

Mike Ciacciarella, '88

Mike Ciacciarella was re-elected to a second term as second deputy mayor of Naugatuck, Conn., in the May 2011 election. He works full-time as an electrical engineer for ABS Pumps in Meriden, Conn. He and his wife, Anne Cretella Ciacciarella, reside in Naugatuck with their 12-year old quadruplets, Michael, Vincent, Sofia and Anna.

Dr. Katherine Zappone, '76

Dr. Katherine Zappone was elected in May 2011 to the upper house of the Irish Parliament. A member of the Human Rights Commission, Dr. Zappone is a noted academic and civil rights campaigner.

Tom Phelan, '79

Tom Phelan, MRE, recently published the novel, Nailer, about a man determined to get justice—or revenge. The tale is set against the backdrop of Ireland's abusive industrial schools and the collusion between state and church that allowed them to flourish. Born and raised on a farm in Strahard, Mountmellick, County Laois, in the Irish midlands, Phelan now makes his home in New York.

Peter Bacho, '71

Peter Bacho authored a screenplay that was selected as a finalist at the 2011 Beverly Hills Film Festival. The Seattle Public Library recently placed Bacho’s young adult novel, Leaving Yesler, on its Seattle Picks list.

Mary Joan Hoene, '70

Mary Joan Hoene has rejoined the New York City law firm Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP as counsel in the corporate department. Hoene is former deputy director of the division of investment management at the Securities and Exchange Commission and has served in senior-level roles at several financial service firms. Hoene serves on the American Bar Association and is a member of the New York City Bar Association and the Compliance and Legal Society of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University Law School and a frequent panelist and speaker at financial and legal industry conferences.

Fred Whyte, '68

Fred Whyte, president of STIHL, Inc., has been appointed to exec- utive boards at Old Dominion University and the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Virginia. Gov. Bob McDonnell selected Whyte for the board of visitors at Old Dominion University. He will serve on the hospital’s foundation board of directors. As president of STIHL, Inc., based in Virginia Beach, Va., Whyte is responsible for STIHL’s U.S. operations.

Margo Souza, '64

Margo Souza recently completed the book Million Dollar Conversations with several other female authors. The book shares the strategies of women entrepreneurs for mastering business and relationships. Souza’s contribution to the book, a chapter titled “Straying from the Heard,” discusses her return to the family dairy business.

Father Steve Bossi, '63

Father Steve Bossi, CSP, left his position as director of formation for the Paulist Fathers in Washington, D.C., and now resides in Toronto, Ontario. Currently, he is the associate pas- tor at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. In addition to his work in the parish, Father Bossi offers missions and retreats in Catholic parishes throughout the United States and Canada.